When an 86-year-old woman was attacked by a mugger in the street, Danny Neilson decided he had to act.

The Hull labourer saw David Loftey attack the woman and attempt to steal her bag and went after him.

Meanwhile, the elderly women lay stricken on the floor after banging her head.

Mr Neilson got hold of the assailant and "lamped" him and made sure he would be brought to justice, reports Hull Live.

Has admitted his involvement after seeing a news report on Hull Live which revealed the mugger, David Loftey, has now been jailed for three years and four months for his attack.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on Tuesday released CCTV footage of the moment Loftey was set upon, and hundreds of people hailed Danny "a hero" on social media after watching the video above.

The moment David Loftey was attacked by three men in Ferensway (Image: CPS)

Mr Neilson, who is currently looking for work, said he only popped out for chicken nuggets when he saw the attack earlier this year.

He said: "I wouldn’t say I am a hero but I'd just seen it happen, I thought 'I can’t stand here and watch it happen', he just like grabbed her above her head.

"There was so many people about, I was quite far away but I just chucked my bike on the floor and lamped him one.

"I was only going to McDonald's for chicken nuggets and on the way back home I just seen it happen.

"There was an old woman on the floor, so I ran across. I aren’t even joking there was at least 100 people who just watched it happened. Not on my watch.

"You don't really properly see it in the video but he grabbed her bag and started walking off and I thought 'f**k this,' and hit him one, and dropped him.

"I’d do it for anyone, how can you sleep at night doing things like that?

Danny Neilson works as a labourer and is currently looking for work

"He went out cold, but I had to help him up because I didn’t want him to get run over by a bus.

"I left him at the side of the road, and I went back to the old woman to see if she was alright, he wasn’t my priority, I'd got the bag off him, because at first he grabbed the bag but I grabbed him and gave the woman the bag, then decked him.

"He just ran off because the police turned up, clear as day."

Mr Neilson put his jacket around the victim and rang an ambulance before he got the attention of two passing PCSOs. He said he gave his name to police at the time but has not been questioned since.

He said he feared he would be charged with assault but had wanted to stop the attacker.

He said: "I just told her [the victim] to sit on the pavement, I wanted to see she was alright. She was so sweet with me.

"I've not spoken to the police, I gave my name and that was it, they didn't ring me. I was worried about getting done for assault.

"I’ve just seen the news of it and I knew straight away it was me. I’m so happy that she’s alright.

"I don't need a thank you, I’ve just got a good heart and wouldn't see that happen to anyone."

The elderly victim, who has arthritis and a hip replacement, had a "lump" to the top of her head and bruising to her right shoulder and hip after the attack.

She spent three hours being treated and observed at Hull Royal Infirmary, and recalled: "The doctors were worried about me sustaining concussion."

Originally, Loftey, 26, told police he had "been working" at the time of the attack and denied any involvement when he was shown CCTV footage - however he eventually confessed.

He admitted attempted robbery and breaching a community order, which was imposed by magistrates in April for two office burglaries and a theft. They were among 45 offences on his record.

Mr Neilson said he was disappointed Loftey wasn't jailed for longer.

He said: "All I wanted to know is that woman is OK. I don’t agree with what's happened, he should have got a lot longer."